يا لَيلَ وَجدٍ بِنَجدٍ

أَما لِطَيفِكَ مَسرى

O night of longing in Najd,

has your phantom no journey by night?

وَما لِدَمعي طَليقاً

وَأَنجُمُ اللَيلِ أَسرى

And why does my tear run free,

while the stars of night are captives?

وَقَد طَمى بَحرُ لَيلٍ

لَم يُعقِبِ المَدَّ جَزرا

Night’s sea has risen in flood,

its flow followed by no ebb;

لايَعبُرُ الطَرفُ فيهِ

غَيرَ المَجَرَّةِ جِسرا

the gaze cannot cross it

save on the Milky Way as a bridge.